The surfaces of our racecourses took a unique battering in the summer of 2002, and if the weekend storms were to be replicated in the months ahead, this particular problem, which stems in part from the extraordinary increase in the number of runners, could reach crisis proportions by the time the next Flat Season comes around.
In the meantime, we are fast approaching showdown time in the race for the jockeys' title, and a back-from-America Michael Kinane will probably be relieved to be no more than one winner behind Johnny Murtagh when the pair weigh in for the first race at Leopardstown this afternoon.
Kinane does seem to have the better book of rides, as the bankers are Dalcassian (2.30) and Ice Dancer (3.30).
Dalcassian was a hampered third at Punchestown to Powerscourt, while Ice Dancer, despite winning last year's Trigo Stakes, is penalty free, not having won a Listed or Group Race since New Year's Day.
The decision of John Oxx not to send New South Wales over to Doncaster for the Racing Post Trophy means he is ready to take on all comers for the Killavullan Stakes, the last Group race of the season in Ireland. He was impressive on his first start at The Curragh in fending off Chevalier, Napper Tandy and Eklim, all of whom were successful next time.
The chances of Galway staging their October bank holiday Monday meeting hinge upon an early morning inspection.
The executive are always good at advertising their meetings, but one such plug on radio on Saturday was promoting a Sunday meeting that had been abandoned 24 hours earlier.
If they are in better luck today, the partnership of John Magnier and Buffalo Bill could notch win number three, as both horse and rider have created a good impression in recent weeks.
